Volume 10 No. 4 | Winter 2012 Sound Post | Winter 2012 INTERVAL QUIZ FIM Pursuing 1. Where are the Irish composers, Michael Balfe and William Wallace, buried? Musicians’ Grievance 2. At which venue did the Beatles appear in Dublin in the early with Airlines 1960s? 3. Which former Irish Government minister wrote a biography Despite the fact that the petition launched this summer by the entitled, The Great Melody? International Federation of Musicians (FIM) has already collected more than 40,000 signatures, EU Commissioner for Transport, 4. Who composed the well-known Siim Kallas, is still refusing to include specific provisions which waltz, Waves of the Danube? take account of problems encountered by musicians travelling by 5. With which instrument was NEWSLETTER • OF • THE • MUI: MUSICIANS’ UNION OF IRELAND plane with their instrument into the revised 261/2004 regulation George Formby associated? on passenger rights. IN THIS ISSUE: 6. Which musical instrument is MUI demands restoration of full In a letter dated 24th July, 2012, mobility is restricted and their mentioned in the title of the 2001 strength NSO he nevertheless indicates that he activity consequently curtailed. film starring Nicholas Cage and understands these problems and Pénelope Cruz? FIM is continuing in its efforts, in MUI Demands Peter Healy, former MUI RTÉ CO recognises that, on account of Officer, retires unforeseeable situations with which liaison with others, including Euro- 7. What is the stage name of the pean MP, Georges Bach, to deter- American singer and songwriter, musicians are faced during check- MUI RTÉ freelance orchestral mine the most suitable means for Stefani Joanne Angelina German- in or boarding, their professional otta? Restoration of rates making headway on this issue. SOUNDING International mobilisation must be 8. True or false? The March King, MUI RTÉ CO Section Committee, maintained, particularly by John Philip Sousa, performed in 2012-13 OFF! encouraging people to sign the FIM Ireland. RTÉ NSO Posts petition via social networks. This Why Ireland needs threatened 9. In which year was the RTÉ 2 tel- situation does not just affect Euro- RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet I assure you that the typewriting evision channel inaugurated? machine, when played with ex- pean musicians but all those who In a highly disturbing development, RTÉ’s justification for this reprehensible and short-sighted action is its current MUI AGM report pression, is not more annoying travel from EU airports or use an 10. Name the original ITGWU (now RTÉ has recently reduced, unilater- serious financial crisis. While there is no than the piano when played by a EU-based airline company. part of SIPTU) full-time union ally, from 89 to 81, the playing denying the national broadcaster’s financial New MUI website launched by sister or near relation. official of the RTÉ orchestral strength of the National Symphony difficulties, under no circumstances can Tánaiste All MUI members are urged to players? Orchestra (NSO). All 8 posts were in this justify damaging, in such a fundamen- Oscar Wilde support the petition. the string section which has been tal manner, one of the nation’s leading Answers below reduced from 60 to 52 players, or cultural institutions. RTÉ’s action is com- Trade union history of musicians by more than 13%. The reduction in pletely unacceptable to the Union. Apart in Ireland launched in Liberty the staffing of the NSO, the first in from any other consideration, under a 1991 Hall Union Dues 2012 Gilmore Eamon 10. the history of the RTÉ orchestras, agreement with SIPTU, RTÉ undertook to retain the NSO and the Concert Orchestra Gaga. 8. True. 9. 1978. 9. True. 8. Gaga. Freelance workers’ rights Gross Annual Earnings Annually Monthly Weekly is a major blow, not alone to the ‘at not less than their current sizes’. Their Over €26,000 €244.40 €20.37 €4.70 Lady 7. Mandolin. 6 Ukelele. 5. NSO, but the musical life of this suppression of the eight string positions is continued to be denied O’Brien. 4. Iosif Ivanovici. Iosif 4. O’Brien. country. a flagrant breach of that accord. Over €16,900, up to €26,000 €208.00 €17.33 €4.00 International Federation of Street. 3. Dr. Conor Cruise Conor Dr. 3. Street. Continued on page 2 Over €10,400, up to €16,900 €145.60 €12.14 €2.80 Musicians (FIM) adopts motions Over €6,640, up to €10,400 €98.90 €8.24 €1.90 Abbey Middle Cinema, Adelphi 2. on key issues Up to €6,604 €52.00 €4.34 €1.00 London. Cemetary, Kensal 1. Answers FIM pursuing musicians’ Unemployed Rate €15.60 €1.30 €0.30 grievance with airlines John Swift on the Theatre Royal, Dublin, strike, 1952-53 Theo Mortimer (1931-2008) on Liberty Hall, Dublin 1. Tel: 01-8586404 Fax: 01-6865567 E-mail: [email protected] Michael Kelly, Mozart’s Dublin Website: www.mui.ie collaborator and friend PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION FOR PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS John Brophy on Francesco Geminiani, an Italian composer in Full-time and Part-time Rock, pop, jazz, traditional and classical Pictured at the book launch, ‘Striking a Chord’, a Trade Union History of Musicians in Ireland, Dublin by founding MUI Secretary, John Swift, in Liberty Hall, Dublin, 13th December 2012, l-r: Michael MUI SUPPORTING THE ARTIST ‘Mick’ O’Connor (President, Association of Irish Traditional Musicians) and Andy Irvine (Presi- dent, Musicians’ Union of Ireland) (Photo: David Swift) (report and photograph page 3) Printed by Trade Union Labour in Ireland. Sound Post | Winter 2012 Sound Post | Winter 2012 Peter Healy, Former MUI RTÉ CO President Retires Francesco Geminiani – RTÉ Concert Orchestra (CO) Prin- An Italian Composer cipal Oboist, Galway-born Peter Healy, retired in August 2012. He had held that demanding position for a remarkable thirty-eight years. in Dublin His musical career commenced around 1965 as a freelancer with the Radio Éireann Light Orchestra By John Brophy Des Courtney, MUI Organiser (now the RTÉ Concert Orchestra). Prior to his appointment as Princi- It was probably the most neglected centenary of 2012. pal Oboe of the RTÉ LO in 1974, he (Well, not a centenary actually, but the quarter millennium MUI Demands performed with several other en- Francesco Geminiani sembles, including the BBC Train- must count for something). The reference books show that Restoration of RTÉ ing Orchestra (1967-70), the Ulster Francesco Geminiani died on 17th September, 1762 and was What did the music sound like? Just look Orchestra (1970-71, and the Gul- buried in St. Andrew’s Church, Suffolk Street in Dublin. on Youtube, and it’s there, or at least a benkian Orchestra, Lisbon (1971-74). respectable selection. It’s very much of NSO Posts Different reference books show that the Apart from travel difficulties, there was Peter Healy its time, but some concerti are unusual For more than forty years, Peter Healy said church was burnt down in 1860, and the little matter of mending fences. Mr. in having two viola lines, a boon to that rebuilt under the influence of John Handel had done a runner on the Elector Continued from page 1 has been a union member. As a BBC oft traduced tribe of string players. Training Orchestra instrumentalist he special pay award of some 20% to the Ruskin. This explains why not only the and it’s an indication of how much clout church, but also the pub opposite is our Francesco had amassed that Handel Commenting on the elimination of the enrolled in the (British) Musicians’ RTÉ instrumentalists. There’s a huge amount of the music Union (MU). While performing with the decked out in Gothic style. The original was at once accepted and pardoned. available free on the IMSLP website, 8 posts, MUI Organiser, Des Courtney, church had a classical portico and said: ‘The full playing strength of the Ulster Orchestra he was initially a A decade and a half later, Healy was even if it might need re-setting. I also member of the MU and later the North- elected President of the SIPTU RTÉ CO steeple, and there are contemporary Francesco seems to have been an arbiter have the D major sonata for Flute or NSO, as far as RTÉ and the Union are engravings to give a fair idea of what it of good taste. Good taste in playing the concerned, is 89. Both parties are ern Ireland Musicians’ Association. Section Committee for the year 1999- Oboe as edited by Mr T Wind, general Following his appointment in 1974 to 2000. During his term of office, RTÉ looked like. It was known as the Round violin, in accompanying on the harpsi- editor Rien de Reede. Seriously. committed to ensuring the restoration Church because of its circular layout. chord and obeying those little figures of the Orchestra to its full playing the RTÉLO, Healy joined the Irish Feder- and SIPTU concluded a productivity ation of Musicians and Associated Pro- agreement embracing a special pay below the bass line. It was good taste And we remember the man who died, strength as circumstances allow. For More to the point is that any memorial that got him into trouble, since he be- its part, the MUI will continue to fessions (IFMAP). In 1985, he and his award of 18%in respect of the members ostensibly for grief and distress at the RTÉ orchestral player colleagues trans- of both orchestras. Peter Healy played a tablet to Geminiani was lost in the fire, came a fine art collector without consid- loss of a valuable manuscript. They pursue full restoration as an absolute and not replaced, a fate which also befell ering the little detail of how to pay for it.